Taiwan

Position Type

Our team is planting churches in places where Christ-followers are scarce and the spiritual climate is challenging. In Taiwan, modern and contemporary culture co-mingle with traditional Chinese beliefs and customs. Working class Taiwanese are steeped in ancestor and idol worship, and we are looking for people who will live incarnationally in order to bring hope in Christ to the lost and help build up a vibrant community of believers.

Required Qualifications:

A recognized bachelor’s degree

Completion of a minimum of 30 hours of Bible/theology/ministry and 15 hours of intercultural studies

The spouse must hold a recognized bachelor’s degree and have completed at least 18 hours of Bible/theology, 15 hours of missions/ministry studies (with a minimum of 6 hours in cross-cultural or missions studies).

Timeline for Deployment:

General Information:

Work and Living Environment:

While formal language learning may give the team member an opportunity to live and learn in an urban setting, once language study is completed, a move will be made to one of Taiwan’s least-churched areas, most likely a small town or rural community. Though Taiwan’s rural communities do not have the abundance of shopping or variety of public transportation options, the lifestyle is still convenient and comfortable.

Status of Christian Witness:

Language Expectations:

Language is an essential part of ministry. International workers (IWs) receive two years of intensive Taiwanese language and cultural study. The goal will be to speak and read (Romanization and some Chinese characters) the language at a functional level in order to share the good news of Jesus. Once a proficient level of Taiwanese language ability is reached, IWs are encouraged to also learn a basic level of Mandarin Chinese.

Though Mandarin Chinese is the official language of Taiwan and spoken by the majority of the population, for many working-class people, Taiwanese is their heart language and the language needed for ministry in our church-planting locations. Our team has the goal to become fluent first in one language and later strive for conversational proficiency in the second language.

Intensive language study is done at an urban branch of Taipei Language Institute (TLI); with the majority of the classroom time spent one-on-one with an instructor. Though learning Chinese is a long-term process, upon completing the two years of language study, students are expected to enter into ministry using their new language. Reading Chinese is an important and valuable tool. A smaller emphasis is put on being able to fluently write the language. IWs are expected to continue using available language resources even after formal classes are completed in order to grow in language proficiency.

Health Considerations:

Taiwan has good health-care facilities, well-trained doctors, and most medications are readily available. IWs will be covered under Taiwan’s National Health Insurance which provides inexpensive and accessible health care.

Expectations for Spouse:

Spousal roles vary based on the spouse’s gifts, training, and abilities, as well as the needs of the team. It is expected that both spouses will be meaningfully involved in meeting ministry objectives, depending on the nature of family roles, children, etc.

Children’s Educational Plan and Options:

While in language study, most IWs’ children attend school at one of Morrison Christian Academy’s Taiwan campuses. When the team member moves to a more rural setting after language study, children can either be homeschooled, attend a local Chinese school, or attend a small Morrison satellite school during elementary years. Middle school or high school students will live in the dorm at Morrison Academy.

Compensation:

This position is designated to be funded through the Great Commission Fund (GCF). We offer compensation for this position, covering costs related to a monthly living allowance, housing, travel, children’s education, and full benefits. Please visit our compensation page for details on how U.S. Alliance international workers are supported. GCF-funded workers share responsibility for raising GCF dollars through Alliance churches and other sources.

Whole-Life Health:

The C&MA is an evangelical denomination committed to planting churches both in the United States and internationally. Due to the nature of this ministry opportunity, part of the required qualifications include optimal emotional, spiritual, and physical health. These will be assessed as you move forward in the application process.

Important Clarification:

Applicants should be aware that serving in the international world often requires a higher degree of grace and flexibility. For example, overseas teams can be suddenly and unexpectedly impacted by illness, government decisions, financial realities, team changes, or other factors beyond the team’s control. The challenge for applicants is that these factors can sometimes necessitate the sudden redefining of a position, which may take place before, during, or after the application/interview process has begun or is completed.